WINNIPEG, Manitoba, Sept 27 (Reuters) - Canadian veterinary officials said on Thursday they have found the H7N3 strain of avian influenza on a Saskatchewan chicken farm, but noted the case was not the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain seen elsewhere.

Saskatchewan, known for its large expanses of grain fields, accounts for a small fraction of Canadian poultry production.

Canada had its first major outbreak of bird flu in 2004 in British Columbia's densely populated Fraser Valley. About 16 million poultry were destroyed to limit the spread of the virus.

Two smaller outbreaks were seen in 2005 and 2006.

AlertNet news is provided by